After a scene-stealing role in “The White Lotus” Season 2, in addition to great performances in projects like “Support the Girls,” “Columbus,” and “Montana Story,” Haley Lu Richardson has become one of the most exciting actresses working today. And to think her star could have been even brighter, perhaps, if she had taken a meeting with Ari Aster.
READ MORE: Haley Lu Richardson Wonderfully Keeps ‘Montana Story’ On The Ground [TIFF Review]
Speaking to Backstage, Haley Lu Richardson was asked quite a simple question—was there a role that “got away?” There have been stories throughout the decades of actors turning down iconic roles, only to regret it years later. Well, for Richardson, there is one role that she knows could have been great for her career, but she stands by the reason for turning it down.
“There are a lot [of roles] that got away,” explained Richardson. “But I did get the script for ‘Midsommar.’ I remember reading it; it was such a well-written, creepy script. I actually still haven’t seen the movie because I kind of can’t bring myself to watch it. They wanted to meet me.”
She added, “I had actually done ‘Split,’ I think, a year or two before. And I was like, I don’t want to do another disturbing movie right now. I just don’t have it in me, going around and crying at these disturbing things. It wasn’t something that I wanted, and I felt really strongly about that. So I didn’t even take the meeting. And, you know, that’s a pretty iconic movie, isn’t it? But I do think that everything happens the way that it’s supposed to. There was a reason I didn’t have it in me. And also, Florence Pugh is just such a good actor.”
Of course, turning down a meeting is far different than turning down an actual offer to star in the movie. However, Haley Lu Richardson is a great actress and could have had a strong shot at starring in Ari Aster’s “Midsommar.” It’s difficult to imagine it, sure, because Florence Pugh’s performance is what people talk about most when discussing the best aspects of the film. Her cry alone is now legendary. But there is a world where Richardson turns in a great performance too, and who knows what that could have done for her career? Maybe she’s in “Black Widow” and “Dune: Part Two?”
Speculation aside, Richardson is still doing really well and will have no problem finding roles in the future. But it is interesting to imagine what might have been if she replaced Pugh in “Midsommar.